Detroit Tigers: Michael Lorenzen continues to market himself as trade bait

Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Lorenzen makes statement in final start.

The Detroit Tigers are getting closer and closer to the trade deadline. Teams are starting to really push to make some trades and get those talks in motion. While the Chicago White Sox dealt Lucas Giolito on Wednesday night, there is room for plenty more to go down.

For the Detroit Tigers, one of the big moves that was expected to go down is a trade that would send Michael Lorenzen to a contending team. It was already rumored that the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays were both interested in the right-handed pitcher, but nothing has gone down quite yet.

Lorenzen was signed this off-season by Scott Harris to join the Tigers rotation, and he has embraced the role well, putting together an exceptional season, earning himself a nod to the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle as the Tigers' lone representative.

He's pitched well, and before the trade deadline arrives, Lorenzen was able to put together one more exciting outing, being exceptional on the mound during Thursday's straight doubleheader. He continues to turn in good outings and in his potential last start with the Tigers organization.

He threw 5.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, with one walk and seven strikeouts. He has been solid on the mound for the Tigers this season, really finding a groove. The Tigers have to hope that a team bites on Lorenzen and they are able to trade him for something, re-couping some sort of asset.

While his last start was good and continued to make him an attractive trade chip, the Tigers righty has gotten it done all summer long. In 17 starts, Lorenzen has logged 100.2 innings pitched, pitching to a 3.49 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP, managing 26 walks to 76 strikeouts on the season.

He's been an impressive signing by Harris, really living up to his value. While he is not under contract beyond the 2023 season, he would be a nice trade chip for the Tigers to move to a contender. The issue is that the Tigers may be unable to re-coup any high-level prospects on the flipside.

For the Tigers, they still have some time, but the clock is ticking. The hope has to be that the team has gotten at least one intriguing offer that garners interest from Scott Harris. As the deadline draws near, expect Lorenzen to be one of the names that the Tigers shop on the trade market.